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The uptake of iron-55 by marine sediment, macroalgae and biota following discharge from a nuclear power station
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posted on 2023-06-08, 08:24 authored by P E Warwick, A B Cundy, I W Croudace, M E D Bains, A A DaleSignificant quantities of 55Fe, an activation product of stable iron, have been released into the environment following the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons (mainly in the 1950s and 1960s) as well as through authorized discharges of radioactivity from nuclear power and reprocessing sites. Although some studies have been performed on the behavior of weapons' fallout-derived 55Fe in the environment and subsequent impact on humans, little has been published on the behavior of 55Fe released as a point source discharge from nuclear sites. This study presents data on the concentration and temporal variation of 55Fe in fucoid seaweeds, shellfish, crab, and lobster collected from Weymouth Bay and adjacent coastal areas, southern England. These areas have received authorized discharges of radionuclides originating from the operation of a now decommissioned steam-generating, heavy water-type reactor at AEE Winfrith. The highest activities of 55Fe are found associated with marine sediments collected near the discharge pipeline and a rapid decline occurs away from the pipeline. This is consistent with rapid sorption of 55- Fe by the sediment, and the data show there is only limited reworking and remobilization. Activities of 55Fe in biota generally decreased over time, due to a reduction in the amount of 55Fe discharged. The variation of 55Fe activity, revealed from the monthly sampling of seaweed, does not reflect the short-term fluctuations seen in the patterns of discharged 55Fe activity. Although discharges of 55Fe from AEE Winfrith exceeded other radionuclides, the radiological impact on local seafood consumers is considerably less than for other key radionuclides such as 60Co and 65- Zn but of comparable magnitude to the global average population dose arising from fallout-derived 55Fe.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Environmental Science and TechnologyISSN
0013-936XPublisher
American Chemical SocietyPublisher URL
External DOI
Issue
11Volume
35Page range
2171-2177Department affiliated with
- Biology and Environmental Science Publications
Notes
Paper written with approximately equal contributions from Warwick, Croudace (both University of Southampton) and Cundy. Bains and Dale provided previously unpublished data.Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-06Usage metrics
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